The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

“Bhishma said, ’The Highest Deity, endued
with the six attributes of (puissance, etc.)
is at the Root. Staying there, the Supreme Soul,
with his own energy, creates all these diverse existent
things.[1385] Know that this Kesava who knows no deterioration
is from His eighth portion. Endued with the highest
Intelligence, it is this Kesava who creates the three
worlds with an eighth portion (of His energy).
Coming immediately after Him who lies at the Root,
this Kesava who is eternal (compared with all other
existent things), changes at the end of each Kalpa.
He, however, who lies at the Root and who is endued
with supreme might and puissance, lies in the waters
when universal destruction comes (in the form of the
potential Seed of all things). Kesava is that
Creator of pure Soul who courseth through all the
eternal worlds.[1386] Infinite and Eternal as He is,
He fills all space (with emanations from Himself) and
courseth through the universe (in the form of everything
that constitutes the universe). Freed as He is
from limitations of every kind such as the possession
of attributes would imply, he suffers himself to be
invested with Avidya and awakened to Consciousness,
Kesava of Supreme Soul creates all things. In
Him rests this wondrous universe in its entirety.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’O thou that art conversant
with the highest object of knowledge, I think that
Vritra saw beforehand the excellent end that awaited
him. It is for this, O grandsire, that he was
happy and did not yield to grief (in view of his coming
Death). He who is White of hue, who has taken
birth in a pure or stainless race, and who has attained
to the rank of a Sadhya, doth not, O sinless one,
come back (into the world for re-birth). Such
a person, O grandsire, is freed from both hell and
the status of all intermediate creatures. He,
however, who has attained to either the Yellow or
the Red hue, is seen sometimes to be overwhelmed by
Tamas and fall among the order of Intermediate creatures.
As regards ourselves, we are exceedingly afflicted
and attached to objects that are productive of sorrow
or indifference or joy. Alas, what will the end
be to which we shall attain? Will it be the Blue
or the Dark which is the lowest of all hues?’

“Bhishma continued, ’Ye are Pandavas.
Ye have been born in a stainless race. Ye are
of rigid vows. Having sported in joy in the regions
of the gods, ye shall come back to the world of men.
Living happily as long as the creation lasts, all
of you at the next new creation will be admitted among
the gods, and enjoying all kinds of felicities ye will
at last be numbered among the Siddhas. Let no
fear be yours. Be you cheerful.’”